A Guide to Picking Perfect Pet Fish Names

Coming up with a name for a new pet fish is the perfect time to be original and have a bit of fun!  Believe it or not , a fish that’s well taken care of might live for between five to fifteen years, so you might as well put some thought into searching for the best name.

 The first step is to figure out your fish’s gender so that you know whether to look for male pet fish names or female pet fish names.  For some species, like bettas, their gender is somewhat obvious (the males are more attractive ) but for other species like goldfish, figuring out if your pet is a boy or girl is a bit more tricky .  Worst case scenario , you can always pick a non gender-specific name, like Bubbles, or take a wild guess at your fish’s gender (you have a fifty percent chance of being right)! 

Next think of your fish’s appearance.  What color is it?  Does it have prominent characteristics , large eyes or big fins?  If you have a Goldfish, you may want to consider one of countless great goldfish names like Pumpkin, Sunshine or Garfield. 

If want to choose a name that’s a tad more exotic or unique, pick one from a foreign language like Japanese, Greek, Native American or Spanish. 

Try to use your hobbies and interests for inspiration?  Look to your favorite movies, books or celebrities or after famous fish in film and literature like Dory, Nemo, Moby and Jaws. 

You can also find a name that references the ocean and marine life.   Triton, Neptune and Sinbad are names that legends are made of while Gill, Finn and Bait are fun , humorous names.

Speaking of humor, funny pet names for fish like Fancy Feast, Sushi and Bob are sure to bring a smile to your face or any one else who asks you your fish’s name.

My last Betta fish, Meow (a name inspired by my cat), lived to be four years old.  I just recently got a new one that I named Walter after one of my favorite authors.  Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that I seem to end up calling all my pet fish “Fishy”.  Hopefully you’ll have better luck!